Achillea plant named ‘FLORACHYE2’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Achillea  plant named ‘FLORACHYE2’, characterized by its medium yellow and red-orange colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, low growth vigor and compact, upright-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Achillea millefolium.

Variety denomination: ‘FLORACHYE2’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Achillea plant botanically known as Achillea millefolium and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘FLORACHYE2’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Quedlinburg, Germany during May 2015. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Achillea cultivars having attractive flower coloration and a compact growth habit suitable for container plantings.

The new Achillea cultivar is the result of open-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Achillea millefolium breeding selection coded 10213-4, not patented, characterized by its medium orange-colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is unknown. The new cultivar was selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated open-pollination during July 2016 in a controlled environment in Quedlinburg, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since July 2016 in Quedlinburg, Germany, Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, The Netherlands, and Elburn, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘FLORACHYE2’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Achillea plant:

-   -   1. Medium yellow and red-orange colored inflorescences;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage;     -   3. Low growth vigor; and     -   4. Compact, upright-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having a different inflorescence color and in having a more compact growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Achillea cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Milly Rock Yellow ‘FLORACHYE0’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 33,259. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘FLORACHYE0’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have darker yellow and red-orange         colored inflorescences than plants of ‘FLORACHYE0’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have more branches per plant than         plants of ‘FLORACHYE0’.

In addition, the new cultivar can be compared to Milly Rock Yellow Terracotta ‘FLORACHYE1’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 33,020. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘FLORACHYE1’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have darker yellow and red-orange         colored inflorescences than plants of ‘FLORACHYE1’; and     -   4. Plants of the new cultivar have more leaves per branch than         plants of ‘FLORACHYE1’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘FLORACHYE2’. The plants were approximately four months old and grown three plants per pot in one-gallon containers for approximately two months in an outdoor nursery environment in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at approximately two weeks before transplant and another one week after transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘FLORACHYE2’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘FLORACHYE2’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in June 2022 under natural light conditions in Naperville, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately four-month old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a polycarbonate-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Approximately six weeks after sticking, rooted plants were transplanted three plants per one-gallon containers utilizing a soilless growth medium and grown for three weeks. Plants were then transferred to an outdoor nursery environment in West Chicago, Ill. and grown for approximately two months. Plants were given one pinch at approximately two weeks before transplant and another one week after transplant. Prior to transplant plants were grown in liners in a polycarbonate greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 75° F. (21.1° C. to 23.9° C.) during the day and approximately 60° F. to 65° F. (15.6° C. to 18.3° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Achillea millefolium ‘FLORACHYE2’. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 10 to 12 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 4 weeks.         -   Root description.—Moderately thick, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 8 to 10 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Compact,             upright-mounded.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 18.0 cm. Width: Approximately 20.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 8.         -   Branch.—Strength: Strong. Length to base of cyme:             Approximately 11.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm.             Length of central internode: Approximately 1.5 cm. Texture:             Tomentose. Color of young stems: 145A. Color of mature             stems: 138A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 12. Fragrance: Faint. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Shape: Narrow             oblanceolate. Margin: Very finely pinnately dissected giving             a fern-like appearance. Apex: Acute. Base: Sessile,             truncate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 15.5 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately             4.0 cm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely pubescent.             Texture of lower surface: Moderately pubescent. Color of             upper surface of young foliage: 138A. Color of lower surface             of young foliage: 138B. Color of upper surface of mature             foliage: 137B with midvein of 144B. Color of lower surface             of mature foliage: 137D with midvein of 147C. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘FLORACHYE2’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from late spring through summer.         -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the             plant.—Approximately 10 to 14 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Rotate composite inflorescence             form; inflorescences arranged in terminal or axillary             compound cymes; cymes somewhat flat-topped; freely             flowering; persistent. Aspect: Upward and slightly outward.             Quantity per plant: Approximately 4. Cyme diameter:             Approximately 7.5 cm. Cyme depth: Approximately 5.5 cm.             Inflorescence diameter: Approximately 7.0 mm. Inflorescence             depth: Approximately 5.0 mm. Fragrance: Slight.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:             Approximately 4.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Texture: Tomentose. Color of peduncle: 138A.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: Approximately             5.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Color: 138A with             150D and petals of 12C.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 4             to 5. Arrangement: In a single whorl. Aspect: Rotate. Shape:             Orbicular on a narrow tube enclosing pistil. Margin: Entire.             Apex: Three rounded tips to emarginate. Base: Attenuate.             Length: Blade portion approximately 2.0 mm, tube portion             approximately 3.5 mm. Width: Blade portion approximately 3.0             mm, tube portion approximately 0.5 mm. Texture of upper and             lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface when first             open: 12A with an overlay of N34A, concentrated at margins.             Color of lower surface when first open: 12C with an             irregular underlay of N34A. Color of upper surface when             fully open: 12B with an overlay of N34A, fades to 12D with             senescence. Color of lower surface when fully open: 12D             narrowly margined with N34A. Color of tube portion: 145A.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 14.             Arrangement: Massed in center of inflorescence. Shape:             Tubular. Margin: Entire. Apex: Five-acute tips. Base: Fused.             Length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Diameter at apex:             Approximately 1.5 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color when first open: 12A with             midsection of 145D and base of NN155D. Color when fully             open: 12B with midsection of 145D and base of NN155D.         -   Disc.—Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Depth: Approximately             1.0 mm.         -   Receptacle.—Shape: Dome. Height: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Diameter at base: Approximately 2.5 mm. Color: 144A.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 12.             Arrangement: In multiple whorls. Shape: Lanceolate to             narrowly elliptic. Margin: Entire with papery edges. Apex:             Acute. Base: Truncate. Length: Approximately 2.0 mm to             3.5 mm. Width: Approximately 1.5 mm. Texture of upper             (inner) surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower (outer) surface:             Sparsely pubescent. Color of upper and lower surface: 138A             margined with transparent 157D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Stamen quantity: 5. Stamen length: Approximately             3.0 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: Approximately             1.5 mm. Anther color: 14C. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen             color: 14B. Gynoecium: Present on ray and disc florets.             Pistil quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil length: Approximately             5.0 mm. Stigma shape: Bifid, occasionally trifid. Stigma             length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 12B. Style length:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Style color: 145D. Ovary length:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary color: NN155D. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Achillea has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Achillea plant named ‘FLORACHYE2’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 